by Pat ImigCold Hard Football Facts Respecter Of Elders (@patrickimig)

Peyton Manning enters Super Bowl XLVIII at the twilight age (in NFL terms) of 37. He is one of eight quarterbacks in NFL history to start at quarterback for his team in the Super Bowl beyond the age of 35.

Interestingly, four of those eight are in the Hall of Fame already, while one (Jim Plunkett) is often debated for Canton consideration, another will be debated (Warner) and the active one will be enshrined when it's all said and done (Manning).

The list of over-35 quarterbacks to start in the Super Bowl and how they fared:

JOHNNY UNITAS, SUPER BOWL V (AGE 37)- W, 16-13

The Baltimore Colts defeated the Dallas Cowboys 16-13 in what has become known as the "Stupor Bowl". The game was marred by 11 turnovers, seven of which were committed by Baltimore, representing the most turnovers ever by a Super Bowl winning team. In addition to committing four turnovers, Dallas produced 10 penalties for 133 yards.

Super Bowl V is the only Super Bowl in history to award the game MVP to a member of the losing team. Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley earned the honor after intercepting two passes and sacking Johnny U. Howley refused to accept the award because his team lost.

FRAN TARKENTON, SUPER BOWL XI (AGE 36) - L, 32-14

Tarkenton completed 17/35 passes for 205 yards, one TD and two INT's. His second interception was returned 75 yards by Oakland's Willie Brown for a touchdown.

He was replaced by backup Bob Lee, which is arguably the best backup name in the history of backup quarterbacks. At least when Jim Kelly lost Super Bowls, he had Frank Reich to fall back on.

ROGER STAUBACH, SUPER BOWL XIII (AGE 36)- L, 35-31

Captain America Roger Staubach completed 17/30 passes for 228 yards with three touchdowns, one interception and four carries for 37 yards. His lone interception, however, led to seven points for the Steelers and a 21-14 halftime lead, a lead the team would never relinquish. Pittsburgh won 35-31.

JIM PLUNKETT, SUPER BOWL XVIII (AGE 36) - W, 38-9

The game remembered most for Marcus Allen's dazzling 74-yard touchdown run, immortalized by John Facenda's line, "Here comes Marcus Allen, running with the night," ended with a 38-9 Oakland victory. Jim Plunkett completed an Alex Smith-esque 16/25 passes for 172 yards with one touchdown and zero picks.

Elway did the helicopter spin on his game-winning touchdown run against the Packers in Super Bowl XXXII, but he only completed 12/22 passes for 123 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. He produced through the air much better a year later against Atlanta, completing 18/29 for 336 yards and a touchdown. Most importantly, both games resulted in victory for Elway and the Broncos. We hear Terrell Davis gets migraines just thinking about these games.

RICH GANNON, SUPER BOWL XXXVII (AGE 37) - L, 48-21

At age 37, Rich Gannon entered Super Bowl 37 with an MVP for the regular season awaiting him. But it didn't save him from a catastrophic performance in the biggest game of the season. Gannon threw five interceptions - three of which were returned for touchdowns. Oakland would lose 48-21 in the Chucky Bowl.

KURT WARNER, SUPER BOWL XLIII (AGE 37) - L, 27-23

One of the most prolific postseason passers in NFL history, Kurt Warner worked another miracle in 2008, leading the Arizona Cardinals to the NFC Championship.

Even with a pick-six thrown to Steelers linebacker James Harrison just before halftime, Warner completed 31/43 passes for 377 yards with three touchdowns and the one interception. Warner also lost a fumble, so he isn't free of criticism beyond the pick-six. Pittsburgh would defeat Arizona 27-23.

PEYTON MANNING, SUPER BOWL XLVIII (AGE 37) - ???

It's up to Peyton Manning to break the 4-4 gridlock for old the warhorse quarterbacks at the Super Bowl.

If he fails, he will fall from No. 5 on the all time QB list to No. 48. That's old warhorse sarcasm.

8. Roger Goodell: "So, why is the NFL registered as a non-profit again?"

9. Percy Harvin: "How many fingers am I holding up? Who is the current President of the United States?"

10. John Fox: "What was it like preparing for the Super Bowl (Super Bowl XXXV as D Coordinator Super Bowl XXXVIII as Head Coach) knowing your starting quarterbacks were Kerry Collins and Jake Delhomme?"

11. Richard Sherman: "Do you think Skip Bayless is better at life than anyone?"

12. John Elway: "What do you think of Peyton Manning's brother, demanding a trade by the team he was drafted? Pampered prima donna, no?"

by Pat ImigCold Hard Football Facts Bastion of Football Freedom (@patrickimig)

It's the week of the biggest sporting event on the American sports calendar. While the football purists have to sift through longer TV timeouts and halftime shows featuring poppy musicians, the eyes and ears of the country will be tuned to the television on Sunday afternoon.

America's game has become an American celebration. Here are eight reasons American football is better than the American government. Put another way, here are reasons our brand of football is more "American" than our brand of government.

1. REAL PATRIOTISM

It's nice to see genuine patriotism and love of country from real people who are grateful for the blessings they have. The National Anthem is a great way to start American football.

Contrast that to the corporate suits and ties who convene for state of the union addresses and primary elections where everyone opposes one another, only to sleep in bed together when the lights are off. The joke appears to be on us … I'll take the football players thank you.

2. THE NFL ACTUALLY FOLLOWS ITS RULEBOOK

If the leaders of the country followed The Constitution the way Roger Goodell and NFL officials adhere to every nook, cranny and nuance of the NFL rulebook, there would be a lot more clarity in our every day lives, and a lot more respect for the people who hold office.

3. OFFICIAL REVIEWS TAKE MINUTES, NOT DAYS, WEEKS OR MONTHS

As much as it might pain fans to sit through a few-minute delay to ensure the play on the field was a fumble, it beats going to the DMV, among other things.

Only people with a beating heart have a say in the Pro Bowl rosters. And when it comes to awards and inductions to Canton, Ohio, there are no dead writers contributing.

5. CRITICISM OF LEAGUE WON'T RESULT IN AUDITS OR SPYING (YET)

There's no targeting of fans who hoot and holler about tailgate regulations at the Super Bowl; likewise for those who want the game to return to a more physical, old-school style. A devout fan can even blast his own team's players and coaches if he or she feels like it with no fear of persecution. All opinions are protected under the umbrella of The League.

6. CHEERLEADERS

Boehner and Biden would be a lot more tolerable at those State of the Union Addresses with some U.S. cheerleaders decked in American flag colors.

7. FANS CAN MAKE MONEY OFF THE PLAYERS & TEAMS; GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS MAKE MONEY OFF FANS

Fantasy football and gambling is a serious money-maker (and money-loser). And while fans indirectly provide income for the players and teams by packing stadiums and purchasing jerseys and TV packages, it's by choice.

That's a lot better than the taxpaying citizen funding those lavish vacations and expensive travel taken by the First Familiy and their peers.

The only time these two points intersect is when the tax payer has to help fund a new stadium.

8. FOOTBALL FLYOVERS

The Flyover doesn't take place at inaugurations or other political celebrations. It does at the Super Bowl and kickoff weekends.

Longtime New England Patriots assistant coach Dante Scarnecchia announced last week that he’s retiring, after a legendary career on NFL sidelines that spanned 32 seasons. He turns 66 on February 14.

Scarnecchia spent 30 of his 32 NFL seasons as a Patriots assistant, starting in 1982 under Ron Meyer, and surviving five additional coaching administrations.

His career included the best and worst of the organization’s history (Raymond Berry, Dick MacPherson, Bill Parcells, Pete Carroll, Bill Belichick). Scarnecchia was the offensive line assistant for the Indianapolis Colts in 1989 and 1990.

He was on the sideline for all seven of New England's Super Bowl appearances (1985, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011).

Scarnecchia served as New England’s offensive line coach since 1999, a period during which he built it into the best and most consistent front five in the NFL – as measured by the Cold, Hard Football Facts Offensive Hog Index Index, one of our favorite Quality Stats.

We do not have Offensive Hog Index data dating back to 1999. We have it only from 2004, our debut season.

But over that 10-season period (2004-13), Scarnecchia’s offensive line was consistently the best in football, based upon annual average rank on the Offensive Hog Index.

Folks say football games are won in the trenches. So perhaps it's no coincidence that the Patriots produced 13 more wins than any other team in football during this period of Offensive Hog dominance, an average of more than one win per season better than any other team in football.

Scarnecchia's Offensive Hogs powered record offense

The Patriots in this decade also became the first an only franchise in pro football history to score 500 points four different seasons: 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Only 10 other teams have topped 500 points in a season once, and only three others have done it in multiple seasons:

Denver Broncos (1998, 2013)

New Orleans Saints (2009, 2011)

St. Louis Rams (1999, 2000, 2001)

Our Offensive Hog Index tends to show bias toward teams with great quarterbacks, because it credits units that help passers keep down their mistakes. So it's no surprise to see at the top of the list teams largely led over this period by Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning, three future Hall of Fame quarterbacks.

And over this period, no Offensive Hogs in football were better and more consistent than Scarnecchia's unit in New England.

In fact, the Patriots topped the indicator twice and finished in the Top 10 of the Offensive Hog Index in nine of the last 10 years. The only exception was 2005, when the team went just 10-6, New England's worst record of the past decade.

This press release for the luxury adult Super Bowl onesie came with the subject line: "The Perfect Superbowl Wardrobe for Die-Hard Football Fans."

We thought it was a joke at first. But the luxury adult Super Bowl onesie slowly grew on us, like moss grows on a fat, round immovable object.

We soon realized this type of game-day gear is perfect for the stat-crunching, wing-munching, poorly dressed, asocial shut in football-loving troll with no hope of impressing women even in the best of circumstances.

It's perfect for you people, in other words.

Images here and text below straight from the email press release.

The Perfect Superbowl Wardrobe for Die-Hard Football FansIt's no surprise that professional football players are often spotted in onesies – they're fun, comfy and easy. Now football fans can follow suit with a festive, fun option that will redefine Sunday Best.

ZOOOP iT UP! luxury adult onesies introduces the new unisex ZOOOPLESS Onesie in Football just in time for Super Bowl. This hooded, footless ZOOOP is made of soft, lightweight 100% cotton, and looks amazing on both men and women. The game day equivalent of 'turkey pants,' your ZOOOP will keep you comfortable no matter how many wings you eat.